Pillow apparatus and method for removably attaching a strap sleeve to a pillow

ABSTRACT

A pillow apparatus for removably attaching to a strap includes a pillow and a strap sleeve. The pillow includes a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface. A first surface area of the first major surface includes one of hook fasteners and loop fasteners disposed thereon. The strap sleeve includes a strip of material having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end, and a second end and a removable fastener for removably fastening the first end to the second end to wrap the strip of material around a cavity for receiving a strap. The inner surface of the wrapped strip of material faces the cavity, and a second surface area of the outer surface of the strap sleeve includes the other of hook fasteners and loop fasteners disposed thereon for fastening with the hook fasteners or loop fasteners of the first major surface of the pillow. The first surface area is greater than the second surface area.

FIELD

The present application relates to the field of removably attachable pillows, in particular removably attachable pillow suitable for recovery from chest surgeries.

BACKGROUND

After surgery, coughing is important for keeping the lungs clear. For patients with a chest surgical site, the incision should be braced when coughing, such as by hugging a small pillow to the incision when coughing. When leaving the hospital after surgery, the same pillow can be used to protect surgical sites from contact with seatbelts.

Accordingly, those skilled in the art continue with research and development in the field of removably attachable pillows, in particular removably attachable pillow suitable for recovery from chest surgeries.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, there is a pillow apparatus for removably attaching to a strap. The pillow apparatus includes a pillow and a strap sleeve. The pillow includes a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface. A first surface area of the first major surface includes one of hook fasteners and loop fasteners disposed thereon. The strap sleeve includes a strip of material having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end, and a second end and a removable fastener for removably fastening the first end to the second end to wrap the strip of material around a cavity for receiving a strap. The inner surface of the wrapped strip of material faces the cavity, and a second surface area of the outer surface of the strap sleeve includes the other of hook fasteners and loop fasteners disposed thereon for fastening with the hook fasteners or loop fasteners of the first major surface of the pillow. The first surface area is greater than the second surface area.

In another embodiment, there is a method for removably attaching to a strap sleeve to a pillow. The method includes: fastening a strap sleeve to a first major surface of a pillow at a first position, the strap sleeve comprising a cavity formed therein for receiving a strap; unfastening the strap sleeve from the first major surface of the pillow; and re-fastening the strap sleeve to the first major surface of the pillow at a second position different from the first position.

Other embodiments of the disclosed pillow apparatus and method for removably attaching a strap sleeve to a pillow will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a front view of a pillow for a pillow apparatus according to an embodiment of the present description.

FIG. 1B is a rear view of the pillow of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a left view of the pillow of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D is a right view of the pillow of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1E is a top view of the pillow of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1F is a perspective view of the pillow of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a view of an inner surface of a strap sleeve in an unwrapped configuration.

FIG. 2B is a view of an outer surface of the strap sleeve of FIG. 2A in the unwrapped configuration.

FIG. 2C is a view of a front surface of the strap sleeve of FIG. 2A in a wrapped configuration.

FIG. 2D is a view of a rear surface of the strap sleeve of FIG. 2A in the wrapped configuration.

FIG. 3A is a front view of a pillow apparatus including the pillow of FIGS. 1A to 1F with the strap sleeve of FIGS. 2A to 2D, showing the strap sleeve in a first position.

FIG. 3B is a front view of the pillow apparatus of FIG. 3A, showing the strap sleeve in a second position.

FIG. 3C is a front view of the pillow apparatus of FIG. 3A, showing the strap sleeve in a third position.

FIG. 4A is a front view of the pillow apparatus of FIG. 3A with a strap of a seatbelt.

FIG. 4B is a front view of the pillow apparatus of FIG. 3B with a strap of a seatbelt.

FIG. 4C is a front view of the pillow apparatus of FIG. 3C with a strap of a seatbelt.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a variation of the pillow for the pillow apparatus according to an embodiment of the present description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to an embodiment of the present description, there is an exemplary pillow apparatus 2 for removably attaching to a strap S. As shown, the pillow apparatus 2 includes a pillow 4 and a strap sleeve 6. The pillow 4 includes a first major surface 8 and a second major surface 10 opposing the first major surface 8, wherein a first surface area 12 of the first major surface 8 includes one of hook fasteners 14 and loop fasteners 16 disposed thereon. The strap sleeve 6 includes a strip of material 18 having an inner surface 20, an outer surface 22, a first end 24, and a second end 26 and a removable fastener 28 for removably fastening the first end 24 to the second end 26 to wrap the strip of material 18 around a cavity 30 for receiving a strap S, wherein the inner surface 20 of the strip of material 18 in the wrapped condition faces the cavity 30, and wherein a second surface area 32 of the outer surface 22 of the strap sleeve 6 includes the other of hook fasteners 14 and loop fasteners 16 disposed thereon for fastening with the hook fasteners 14 or loop fasteners 16 of the first major surface 8 of the pillow 4.

Accordingly, the pillow can be used to protect surgical sites from contact with seatbelts, and the pillow can be fastened to the strap of the seatbelt.

Moreover, according to the present description, the first surface area 12 is greater than the second surface area 32.

By ensuring that the first surface area 12 having one of hook fasteners 14 and loop fasteners 16 disposed thereon is greater than the second surface area 32 having the other of hook fasteners 14 and loop fasteners 16 disposed thereon, the strap sleeve 6 may be fastened to the first major surface 8 of the pillow 4 at a plurality of different positions, and, thus, a position of the pillow 4 with respect to the seatbelt may be ready adjusted to different positions with respect to the strap S of the seatbelt to better protect surgical sites from contact with seatbelts.

In a specific aspect, the first surface area 12 is at least two times the second surface area 32. In another specific aspect, wherein the first surface area 12 is at least four times the second surface area 32. In yet another specific aspect, the first surface area 12 is at least eight times the second surface area 32. In yet another specific aspect, the entirety of the first major surface 8 includes the one of hook fasteners 14 and loop fasteners 16 disposed thereon.

By increasing the first surface area 12 relative to the second surface area 32, the variety of different positions of the strap sleeve 6 relative to the pillow 4 is further increased.

In another aspect, the first major surface 8 of the pillow 4 includes loop fasteners 16 disposed thereon, and wherein the outer surface 22 of the strap sleeve 6 includes hook fasteners 14 disposed thereon. By disposing the loop fasteners on the pillow 4 rather than the hook fasteners 14, an aesthetic appeal of the pillow 4 may be increased due to the less abrasive texture of the loop fasteners 16.

In yet another aspect, the removable fastener 28 for removably fastening the first end 24 to the second end 26 includes hook and loop fasteners. However, the removable fastener 28 may include any suitable removable fasteners, such as buttons, snaps, zippers, etc.

FIGS. 1A to 1F illustrate an exemplary pillow 4 of the pillow apparatus 2. FIG. 1A is a front view of the pillow 3. FIG. 1B is a rear view of the pillow 4. FIG. 1C is a left view of the pillow 4. FIG. 1D is a right view of the pillow 4. FIG. 1E is a top view of the pillow 4. FIG. 1F is a perspective view of the pillow 4.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1F, the pillow 4 includes a first major surface 8 and a second major surface 10 opposing the first major surface 8. In the illustrated example, the pillow 4 is heart-shaped, but the shape of the pillow is not so limited. Also, in the example, the first major surface 8 and the second major surface 10 are connected by a seam extending around the circumference of the pillow, but the pillow is not so limited. In another example, the pillow may include a one or more side surfaces (not shown) extending around circumference of the pillow between the first major surface 8 and the second major surface 10.

As illustrated, a first surface area 12 of the first major surface 8 includes loop fasteners 16 disposed thereon. By disposing the loop fasteners on the pillow 4 rather than the hook fasteners 14, an aesthetic appeal of the pillow 4 may be increased due to the less abrasive texture of the loop fasteners 16. Alternatively, the first surface area 12 includes hook fasteners thereon.

In the illustrated example, the first surface area 12 including the hook fasteners 14 or loop fasteners 16 disposed thereon is the entirety of the first major surface 8. Alternatively, the first surface area 12 may be a selected portion of the first major surface 8. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the first surface area 12 is represented by the smaller heart-shaped portion inside the larger heart-shaped first major surface 8. As will be further described below, the size of the first surface area 12 may be increased as desired to permit for an increasing variety of different positions of a strap sleeve relative to the pillow 4.

The first major surface 8 may include a single layer of material or multiple layers of material, but the present description is not so limited. For example, the first major surface 8 may be formed of a single layer of material that includes the hook fasteners 14 or the loop fasteners 16. In another example, the first major surface may be formed of a first layer of material forming a casing of the pillow (e.g., connected by a seam extending around the circumference of the pillow to the second major surface 10) and a second layer of material may be positioned on the first layer of material, wherein the second layer of material includes the hook fasteners 14 or the loop fasteners 16. In this case, the second layer of material that includes the hook fasteners 14 or the loop fasteners 16 may cover the entirety of the first layer of material or may cover a selected portion of the first major surface 8, such as shown in FIG. 5, in which the entirety of the second layer of material may include the hook fasteners 14 or the loop fasteners 16 disposed thereon.

The second major surface 10 may have any surface texture. For example, the second major surface 10 may be formed from a conventional casing for a pillow. In another example, the second major surface 10 may have a surface area including the same fasteners (i.e. hook fasteners or loop fasteners) as the first major surface 8. In this case, either of the first major surface or the second major surface may fasten to a strap sleeve.

FIGS. 2A to 2D illustrate an exemplary strap sleeve 6 of the pillow apparatus 2. FIG. 2A is a view of an inner surface of the strap sleeve in an unwrapped configuration. FIG. 2B is a view of an outer surface of the strap sleeve of FIG. 2A in the unwrapped configuration. FIG. 2C is a view of a front surface of the strap sleeve of FIG. 2A in a wrapped configuration. FIG. 2D is a view of a rear surface of the strap sleeve of FIG. 2A in the wrapped configuration.

As illustrated, the strap sleeve 6 includes a strip of material 18 having an inner surface 20, an outer surface 22, a first end 24, and a second end 26 and a removable fastener 28 for removably fastening the first end 24 to the second end 26 to wrap the strip of material 18 around a cavity 30 for receiving a strap.

The strip of material 18 may include any material having suitable characteristics (e.g. size, shape, strength, flexibility) to wrap around and thereby form a cavity therein. An exemplary and non-limiting suitable material would be a strap cover typically used with children's car seats for protecting the child from seatbelt strap irritation.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the strip of material 18 has the first end 24 and second end 26. As shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, the first end 24 and second end 26 wrap around and fasten together to form a cavity 30. The cavity 30 is preferably a longitudinal cavity extending along the length of the wrapped strip of material 18 that is sized and shaped to receive a strap, such as the strap of a seatbelt. As represented by FIGS. 2C and 2D, the inner surface 20 of the strip of material 18 in the wrapped condition faces the cavity 30.

As shown, the removable fastener 28 may be in the form of loop fasteners 28A and hook fasteners 28B disposed at the first end 24 and second end 26 of the strip of material. However, the removable fastener 28 is not so limited and may include any removable fasteners suitable for readily fastening and unfastening around the strip. For example, the removable fasteners 28 may include buttons, snaps, and zippers.

As illustrated, a second surface area 32 of the outer surface 22 of the strap sleeve 6 includes hook fasteners 14 disposed thereon for fastening with the loop fasteners 16 of the first major surface 8 of the pillow 4. Alternatively, the second surface area 32 of the outer surface 22 of the strap sleeve 6 may include loop fasteners 16 disposed thereon for fastening with hook fasteners 14 of the first major surface 8 of the pillow 4. The size of the second surface area 32 is selected to provide a suitable strength of holding the strap sleeve 6 to the pillow 4. Accordingly, the pillow 4 can be fastened to a strap of the seatbelt by way of the strap sleeve 6. Although the second surface area 32 is illustrated as being centrally-located on the outer surface 22 of the strap sleeve 6, it will understood that the second surface area 32 may be located anywhere on the strap sleeve 6.

FIGS. 3A to 3C illustrate an exemplary pillow apparatus 2 including the pillow 4 of FIGS. 1A to 1F with the strap sleeve 6 of FIGS. 2A to 2D. FIG. 3A is a front view of a pillow apparatus 2, showing the strap sleeve 6 in a first position. FIG. 3B is a front view of the pillow apparatus 2, showing the strap sleeve 6 in a second position. FIG. 3C is a front view of the pillow apparatus 2, showing the strap sleeve 6 in a third position.

As shown, the strap sleeve 6 is fastened to the pillow 4 by way of the hook fasteners 14 and loop fasteners 16 disposed on the first surface area 12 of the first major surface 8 of the pillow 4 and the second surface area 32 of the outer surface 22 of the strap sleeve 6.

According to the present description, the first surface area 12 is greater than the second surface area 32. Thus, the strap sleeve 6 can be positioned in a variety of positions on the first major surface 8 of the pillow 4 as represented by FIGS. 3A to 3C. By increasing the first surface area 12 relative to the second surface area 32, the variety of different positions of the strap sleeve 6 relative to the pillow 4 is further increased. In an exemplary aspect, the first surface area 12 is at least two times the second surface area 21. In another exemplary aspect, the first surface area 12 is at least four times the second surface area 32. In yet another exemplary aspect, the first surface area 12 is at least eight times the second surface area 32.

In the illustrated example, entirety of the first major surface 8 includes the one of hook fasteners 14 and loop fasteners 16 disposed thereon. Thus, the strap sleeve 6 can be positioned anywhere on the first major surface 8 of the pillow 4.

FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate the pillow apparatus 2 of FIGS. 3A to 3C with a strap S, such as a strap of a seatbelt. FIG. 4A is a front view of the pillow apparatus 2 of FIG. 3A with a strap S of a seatbelt. FIG. 4B is a front view of the pillow apparatus 2 of FIG. 3B with a strap S of a seatbelt. FIG. 4C is a front view of the pillow apparatus 2 of FIG. 3C with a strap S of a seatbelt.

As shown, the pillow apparatus 2 is capable of removably attaching pillow 4 to a strap S by way of strap sleeve 6. Thus, the pillow 4 can be used to protect surgical sites from contact with seatbelts, and the pillow can be fastened to the strap of the seatbelt so that it can be retained in position. Furthermore, by way of the removable fastening of the strap sleeve 6 to the pillow 4 and the first surface area 12 being greater than the second surface area 32, the strap sleeve 6 may be positioned in a variety of positions on the first major surface 8 of the pillow 4, and, thus, the pillow 4 may be positioned in a variety of positions with respect to the strap S. Furthermore, the pillow apparatus 2 may be used a standard coughing pillow during recovery in a hospital.

Additionally, the pillow apparatus 2 is not limited to use with a strap S of a seatbelt, but may be fixed to other surfaces, such as a bed rail.

According to another embodiment of the present description, there is a method for removably attaching to a strap sleeve to a pillow. The method includes: fastening a strap sleeve to a first major surface of a pillow at a first position, the strap sleeve comprising a cavity formed therein for receiving a strap, unfastening the strap sleeve from the first major surface of the pillow, and re-fastening the strap sleeve to the first major surface of the pillow at a second position different from the first position.

In an aspect, the pillow and strap sleeve include any one or more features described above with respect to the pillow apparatus.

In another aspect, the fastening, unfastening, and refastening steps are performed using hook and loop fasteners.

In yet another aspect, the pillow comprises a first surface area including one of hook fasteners and loop fasteners disposed thereon, and wherein said strap sleeve includes a second surface area comprising the other of hook fasteners and loop fasteners.

In yet another aspect, the first surface area is greater than the second surface area. In an example, the first surface area is at least two times the second surface area. In another example, the first surface area is at least four times the second surface area. In yet another example, the first surface area is at least eight times the second surface area. In yet another example, the entirety of the first major surface includes the one of hook fasteners and loop fasteners disposed thereon.

In yet another aspect, the first major surface of the pillow includes loop fasteners disposed thereon, and wherein the outer surface of the strap sleeve includes hook fasteners disposed thereon.

In yet another aspect, the method may further include wrapping the strap sleeve around a strap.

In yet another aspect, the method may further include fastening the strap sleeve to itself around the strap. The fastening the strap sleeve to itself around the strap may be performed using hook and loop fasteners.

Although various embodiments of the disclosed pillow apparatus and method for removably attaching a strap sleeve to a pillow have been shown and described, modifications may occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. The present application includes such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pillow apparatus for removably attaching to a strap, the pillow apparatus comprising: a pillow comprising a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface, wherein a first surface area of the first major surface includes one of hook fasteners and loop fasteners disposed thereon; and a strap sleeve comprising a strip of material having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end, and a second end and a removable fastener for removably fastening the first end to the second end to wrap the strip of material around a cavity for receiving a strap, wherein the inner surface of the wrapped strip of material faces the cavity, and wherein a second surface area of the outer surface of the strap sleeve includes the other of hook fasteners and loop fasteners disposed thereon for fastening with the hook fasteners or loop fasteners of the first major surface of the pillow, wherein the first surface area is greater than the second surface area.
 2. The pillow apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first surface area is at least two times the second surface area.
 3. The pillow apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first surface area is at least four times the second surface area.
 4. The pillow apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first surface area is at least eight times the second surface area.
 5. The pillow apparatus of claim 1, wherein the entirety of the first major surface includes the one of hook fasteners and loop fasteners disposed thereon.
 6. The pillow apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first major surface of the pillow includes loop fasteners disposed thereon, and wherein the outer surface of the strap sleeve includes hook fasteners disposed thereon.
 7. The pillow apparatus of claim 1, wherein the removable fastener for removably fastening the first end to the second end includes hook and loop fasteners.
 8. A method for removably attaching to a strap sleeve to a pillow, the method comprising fastening the strap sleeve to a first major surface of the pillow at a first position, the strap sleeve comprising a cavity formed therein for receiving a strap; unfastening the strap sleeve from the first major surface of the pillow; and re-fastening the strap sleeve to the first major surface of the pillow at a second position different from the first position.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the fastening, unfastening, and refastening steps are performed using hook and loop fasteners.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the pillow comprises a first surface area including one of hook fasteners and loop fasteners disposed thereon, and wherein said strap sleeve comprises a second surface area comprising the other of hook fasteners and loop fasteners.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first surface area is greater than the second surface area.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first surface area is at least two times the second surface area.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first surface area is at least four times the second surface area.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the first surface area is at least eight times the second surface area.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the entirety of the first major surface includes the one of hook fasteners and loop fasteners disposed thereon.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein the first major surface of the pillow includes loop fasteners disposed thereon, and wherein an outer surface of the strap sleeve includes hook fasteners disposed thereon.
 17. The method of claim 8, further comprising wrapping the strap sleeve around a strap.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising fastening the strap sleeve to itself around the strap.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein fastening the strap sleeve to itself around the strap is performed using hook and loop fasteners.
 20. The method of claim 8, further comprising wrapping the strap sleeve around a rail of a bed. 